Tree that red-tagged two Saugus homes is reduced to firewood

The four-story-tall pine tree that fell on one Saugus house this week, smashing through its roof, and threatened a second home became firewood on Wednesday.

Work crews operating a “cherry picker” elevated work platform went to work on the tree in the backyard of an Alaminos Drive home early Wednesday and cut the tree down, said Bill Gordon, whose home was one of two red-tagged as unsafe by Santa Clarita officials.

“It was amazing how quickly they cut it down,” Gordon said. His home was safe to occupy after the tree was removed.

The base of the giant pine tree split Monday under the force of strong winds, sending a main branch crashing into the roof of the home where the tree was located.

The home’s owner, Eric Williams, said he called in contractors to help remove the tree as requested by city officials. The tree was weakened by beetles that bored through its bark, he said.